Motta sacked as coach of struggling Juventus, Tudor appointed as replacement

Thiago Motta has been dismissed as coach of Juventus after less than one season in charge, with former player Igor Tudor appointed as his replacement, the club announced on Sunday.

"Juventus FC announces that Thiago Motta has been relieved of his duties as men's first-team coach," the club said in a statement.

"The club would like to thank Thiago Motta and all his staff for their professionalism and the work they have carried out with passion and dedication in recent months."

The statement also confirmed that Tudor would take over the team, holding his first training session on Monday, 24 March.

The decision to part ways with Motta came after a dismal 4-0 defeat to Atalanta, Juventus' heaviest home loss since 1967, and a 3-0 loss at Fiorentina in their previous two matches. These results left Juventus in a disappointing fifth place in Serie A.

The club's directors used the current international break to hold discussions with Motta, ultimately concluding that he was no longer the right fit for the role. However, doubts about Motta's suitability had been building long before March.

Motta, 42, had arrived at Juventus with high expectations in July following his successful stint with Bologna, which saw them qualify for the Champions League. But his tenure in Turin was far from smooth.

His team failed to impress, managing only 13 draws in the league, while high-profile signings such as Douglas Luiz and Teun Koopmeiners underperformed. Motta's frequent changes to the starting XI, including deploying 39 different formations in just 42 matches, also contributed to the team's struggles. His decision to bench key players like Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic and Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz raised further concerns.

Juventus' season took another blow when they were knocked out of the Champions League by PSV Eindhoven in the play-off round, followed by a loss to Empoli in the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup, which they were defending.

In addition to poor results, there was growing frustration among Juventus fans, who felt the club had lost its traditional fighting spirit under Motta. The team no longer embodied their motto, "Fino alla fine" (Until the end), as they drew or lost 87.5% of matches in which they had fallen behind.

As a result, Juventus find themselves battling to secure a top-four finish in Serie A, with only nine matches remaining. A mere six points separate Bologna in fourth place from ninth-placed AC Milan in the race for Champions League qualification.

Motta's successor, Igor Tudor, will be tasked with guiding the team to a top-four finish, which is crucial for the club's finances. Tudor, 46, made 174 appearances for Juventus as a player before transitioning into coaching. His managerial experience includes stints at Verona, Marseille, and Lazio, as well as serving as Andrea Pirlo's assistant during the 2020-21 season at Juventus.

Reports in the Italian press suggest that Tudor has only signed a deal to manage Juventus until the end of the current season. The club's directors are likely looking to attract a high-profile coach, such as Antonio Conte or Stefano Pioli, to take charge in the summer, ahead of the new-format Club World Cup. Another potential candidate is Roberto Mancini, who left his role as Saudi Arabia's coach last October after previous managerial spells at Inter Milan and Manchester City.